Rampage Jackson And Rashad Evans To Coach The 16 Heavyweights Vying For A Six-Figure Contract With The UFC

Premieres Wednesday, September 16 at 10pm ET/PT on Spike TV

New York, NY, July 10, 2009 – In what will literally be the biggest season ever of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV, the 10th season of the groundbreaking series, premiering Wednesday, September 16 at 10:00pm, will showcase 16 of the best unsigned heavyweight mixed martial arts fighters in the world. Featuring former UFC light heavyweight champions “Suga” Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as coaches, season 10 marks the only installment to include only the heavyweight weight class (206+ lbs).

“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” includes a list of notable athletes with impressive and diverse pedigrees including four former NFL players, UFC veterans, a former IFL heavyweight champ, and a highly-publicized former EliteXC fighter who gained prominence through his non-sanctioned bouts on YouTube.

The cast includes:

Zak Jensen – standout wrestler at Augsburg CollegeMarcus Jones – former 1st round NFL draft pick who had a six-year career with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersScott Junk – Division II All-American football player at Southwest Oklahoma State and fought in UFC 76.James McSweeney – former international kickboxing and Muay Thai championJohn Madsen – defeated Brock Lesnar in a high school wrestling matchMatt Mitrione - played for New York Giants and Minnesota VikingsRoy Nelson – former IFL Heavyweight Champion Demico Rogers – high school football and wrestling starBrendan Schaub – played for Buffalo Bills and Arena Football’s Utah BlazeDarrill Schoonover – decorated Army veteranWes Shivers – former member of the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta FalconsWes Sims - fought two heated battles with former UFC champ Frank Mir at UFC 43 and UFC 46Kimbo Slice – former EliteXC heavyweight contender and YouTube sensationAbe Wagner – played linebacker at Michigan Tech and has a degree in mechanical engineeringMike Wessel – UFC veteran and former strength and conditioning coach at University of ArkansasJustin Wren – All-American high school wrestler

During the six-week taping of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” these 16 men endured a grueling regimen of jiu-jitsu, judo, Muay Thai, karate, boxing and wrestling. The intense competition among the fighters continues after they leave the gym – at the Ultimate Fighter House. These warriors must live together, knowing that any day they might be forced to fight each other in the famed UFC Octagon™.

The two finalists will square off in a live finale Saturday, December 5 on Spike TV, when the winner will be declared “The Ultimate Fighter” and net the six-figure contract and a cash prize. UFC President Dana White will once again serve as host of the series.

After each show, Spike.com users will get exclusive extended footage from each episode and an exclusive video leak of the upcoming episode.

Spike TV is available in 98 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks. A unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), MTV Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press.

Related Topics

Related News

Media

Recent

Popular

The Rankings Report is a weekly UFC.com series that gives you, the fans, an in-depth look into the official UFC rankings. This week Matt Parrino and Forrest Griffin talk about all that went down at UFC 184, including Ronda Rousey's big win.

03/03/2015

UFC Minute host Lisa Foiles looks at the newly announced co-main event for the UFC's debut in the Philippines and a welterweight clash between Neil Magny and Hyun Gyu Lim.

03/03/2015

No. 1 welterweight contender Johny "Bigg Rigg" Hendricks lands a solid left hook to Martin Kampmann and ends the night with a KO victory in the first round. Hendricks takes on Matt Brown during the main card at UFC 185 in Dallas, Texas.

03/03/2015

UFC Minute host Lisa Foiles looks back at Ronda Rousey's record-breaking weekend and the slate of fights coming your way on March 14 at UFC 185.

02/03/2015

Ronda Rousey and challenger Cat Zingano have an intense split-screen interview after media day. Then it's time to work out and make weight for the stars of UFC 184, including opponents Raquel Pennington and Holly Holm and a salsa-dancing Josh Koscheck.

27/02/2015

UFC champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Cat Zingano appear for fans at open workouts. Zingano goes in search of the lightest bikini on the market, then dresses up for what turns out to be an intense staredown against the equally-formal titleholder.

26/02/2015

Days before her Octagon debut, Holly Holm ventures from her hometown to Tinseltown. Already in LA, UFC champion Ronda Rousey and title challenger Cat Zingano put on their game faces for photo shoots and promo interviews building up to their UFC 184 bout.

25/02/2015

Ronda Rousey loads up on cardio and inspiration at Glendale Fighting Club. Jake Ellenberger also trains there alongside Hollywood’s own boxing star, Mickey Rourke, while his opponent Josh Koscheck prepares in Fresno for his Octagon return.